The "Dak can't throw the deep pass" myth

[Doomsday101]

I think the deep ball crap is over blown. Dak is capable of hitting the deep ball but frankly does not take many shots. As for dink and dunk, yeah he does and that keeps the chains moving and keeps us in down and distance to use run or pass. I will say I would like this offense to use those shorter passes to setup more deep ball attempts off the double move but for me where Dak and this offense need to really improve on is redzone offense including redzone throws.

 

[dragon_mikal]

Do people even watch the games? Seriously.

 

[erod]

He throws one deep pass. Down the sideline. The rest of the deep field doesn't exist.

He's just bad.

 

[JMech]

How do you explain a 100+ rating against the Bucs? Easy, 15/25, the vast majority of completions were under 5 yards. 6 were behind the line. He had 1 good pass over 20. But he didn't attempt any others. That's 100% completions over 20. Great.

Why don't you dissect one quarter or perhaps 5 minutes of play to make your point? It will help you.

 

[fansince68]

I agree. For me I would like to see better production with the intermediate throws and I think Dak is still tends to be late on those throws, often leading to ball sailing on him. Would like to see the ball released as the WR is about to come out of his break as opposed to throwing after he has come out of the break. When he does that it also allows the DB to catch up and easier to make a play on the ball.

All of the skills that you point out are taught and stressed in high school. Not sure why Dak lacks those simple QB traits at such an advanced level of football. Daks unwillingness to throw deep is not the problem. His inaccuracy on short and intermediate routes and the inconsistent timing on his passes are the most telling factors in the Dak debate. What bugs me is the fact that these "inDakuracies" were evident last season with plenty of video. Yet, nothing has changed.

 

[JMech]

Do people even watch the games? Seriously.

I think they view the stats and make up the game in their mind.

This is getting ridiculous............no wait, it has been for some time.

 

[Bleu Star]

How do you explain a 100+ rating against the Bucs? Easy, 15/25, the vast majority of completions were under 5 yards. 6 were behind the line. He had 1 good pass over 20. But he didn't attempt any others. That's 100% completions over 20. Great.

And we won thanks to a total team effort. Great too.

 

[BoysForLife]

How do your explain this stat?



Seems pretty good to me.

44.... Wince

Is this "air yards" or is this like one of his typical underthrown 10 yard routes that Cooper takes and run 75 yards with?

 

[Sydla]

Oddly this Dak twitter love page often never cites where the stats come from.

What constitutes a deep pass in this rating? In other words, if Dak throws a screen pass and it goes for 40, does that qualify as a "deep" pass?

We need more information to understand if this stat does prove the original OP's premise.

 

[Bleu Star]

I think the deep ball crap is over blown. Dak is capable of hitting the deep ball but frankly does not take many shots. As for dink and dunk, yeah he does and that keeps the chains moving and keeps us in down and distance to use run or pass. I will say I would like this offense to use those shorter passes to setup more deep ball attempts off the double move but for me where Dak and this offense need to really improve on is redzone offense including redzone throws.

Fairest response thus far.

 

[Doomsday101]

All of the skills that you point out are taught and stressed in high school. Not sure why Dak lacks those simple QB traits at such an advanced level of football. Daks unwillingness to throw deep is not the problem. His inaccuracy on short and intermediate routes and the inconsistent timing on his passes are the most telling factors in the Dak debate. What bugs me is the fact that these "inDakuracies" were evident last season with plenty of video. Yet, nothing has changed.

I have seen improvement especially since Cooper got here. I'm seeing passes by Dak that are coming out of his hands before Cooper makes the break. For some reason there seems to be a trust there that Dak knows Cooper will be where he needs to be. I think more work is ahead of Dak but unlike some I believe he can and will continue to improve.

 

[Sydla]

I think the deep ball crap is over blown. Dak is capable of hitting the deep ball but frankly does not take many shots. As for dink and dunk, yeah he does and that keeps the chains moving and keeps us in down and distance to use run or pass. I will say I would like this offense to use those shorter passes to setup more deep ball attempts off the double move but for me where Dak and this offense need to really improve on is redzone offense including redzone throws.

There have been some pretty noticeable "misses" this year late in games on deep balls that would have sealed wins. He's overthrown Gallup on two deep passes where he was wide open for a TD. Now in fairness, his misses get way more attention. So those misses to Gallup get magnified, especially considering the importance of those plays and their potential effect on the game.

The other part of this is that Dak seems to be adverse to risk when it comes to putting the ball in the air. That can be a good thing but also be a bad thing. I think he's gun shy at times to put the ball down the field for fear of the interception. You can see his risk adverse self in the red zone when he almost always refuses to put the ball into the endzone, instead quickly going to the check down or dump off. Now again, in fairness, there are times when the scheme doesn't help him. There have been situations where we literally have run 4 WRs all doing curls from the goal to go. It's maddening. But there are other times when he's just missed guys or not been able to anticipate guys breaking free because he just is scared, for a lack of a better term, to make a tough throw.

 

[Reid1boys]

Dak is amazing...we should give him a Magic Johnson type 25 year deal.

 

[Doomsday101]

There have been some pretty noticeable "misses" this year late in games on deep balls that would have sealed wins. He's overthrown Gallup on two deep passes where he was wide open for a TD. Now in fairness, his misses get way more attention. So those misses to Gallup get magnified, especially considering the importance of those plays and their potential effect on the game.

The other part of this is that Dak seems to be adverse to risk when it comes to putting the ball in the air. That can be a good thing but also be a bad thing. I think he's gun shy at times to put the ball down the field for fear of the interception. You can see his risk adverse self in the red zone when he almost always refuses to put the ball into the endzone, instead quickly going to the check down or dump off. Now again, in fairness, there are times when the scheme doesn't help him. There have been situations where we literally have run 4 WRs all doing curls from the goal to go. It's maddening. But there are other times when he's just missed guys or not been able to anticipate guys breaking free because he just is scared, for a lack of a better term, to make a tough throw.

I think especially in the redzone because coverages are tighter since DB do not have to worry about getting beat deep that it is important for the QB to get the ball out quickly and Dak is not doing that. Some may be due to play design and some on him. I think this is an area that Dak must continue to work on, as for heading into post season what I am hoping to see more of in the redzone is get Dak out of the pocket and allow him to use a run/pass option where if the DB come up to stop the run Dak can throw it if DB say back Dak can run it.

 

[CWR]

Whoever claims to be a Cowboys fan but gets off on Dak failing has some personal issues..

Probably the same type of issues his jock sniffers have...

Just do what normal fans do, love him in the good and hate him in the bad..

Either way, tell me which starting QB is coming to improve the position in the off-season... oh, so pretty much nobody...

At least he’ll keep getting older, slower, and weaker.... but he’ll be wiser.... mwuhahahahaha!!

Go Cowboys !

That's exactly it, no agenda just cheering on our Dallas Cowboys. Sometimes you're gonna love Dak and appreciate the hell out of his game and other times he will drive you mad.

From there I think its a lot about your actual life philosophy. Meaning some people are just negative while others strive to find the positive out of circumstances.

I am well aware he isn't perfect and could flop, however I've seen him flash and I trust in his character/work ethic and talent enough to hope he will become more consistent and answer all of our questions at qb.

 

[Scotman]

STATS or no STATS, Dak needs to light it up in the post season. His game needs to be improved dramatically. I like him, a lot. Great guy. Love what he has brought to the team. But we are in his third season heading into the post season. If he's the guy...he needs to be the guy starting right now.

 

[Sydla]

That's exactly it, no agenda just cheering on our Dallas Cowboys. Sometimes you're gonna love Dak and appreciate the hell out of his game and other times he will drive you mad.

From there I think its a lot about your actual life philosophy. Meaning some people are just negative while others strive to find the positive out of circumstances.

I am well aware he isn't perfect and could flop, however I've seen him flash and I trust in his character/work ethic and talent enough to hope he will become more consistent and answer all of our questions at qb.

Both these posts are silly. They just are.

Since the dawn of professional sports, part of being a fan has always been cheering AND criticizing the team, the players, etc. It's inherent in being a fan. Are you telling me you guys have never had a player that frustrated you and you criticized them?

This is sports. I think few people hope Prescott fails. This idea that Dak criticizers take pleasure in him struggling at times is simply BS. I suspect if you asked most, there aren't many that wouldn't want Dak to be as good as Brady or Rodgers or Brees or even Mahomes. So this notion that there is some personal bitterness over this guy is poppycock.

There is this undercurrent in posts like this that if you aren't waving your pom poms 24/7, it somehow makes you less of a fan. It's ridiculous.

 

[CowboysRule]

Fix the blocking and this offense will be right back to 2016. Could even better with more changes.

There's nothing wrong with the blocking. Dak holds the ball too long. It's easy to see. Sure, sometimes blocking breaks down but that happens to every team. Do you think we would have the leading rusher if the blocking was abysmal constantly?

And blocking won't stop him from throwing off target with no pressure.

 

[Ranching]

Don’t believe the haters. They know not what they talk about. They are just on an agenda filled hate fest. Very sad.

Well said!!! Unless we hate Garrett, then it's ok! Lol!!

 

[DFWJC]

Oddly this Dak twitter love page often never cites where the stats come from.

What constitutes a deep pass in this rating? In other words, if Dak throws a screen pass and it goes for 40, does that qualify as a "deep" pass?

We need more information to understand if this stat does prove the original OP's premise.

Good point.

Also, quantity matters
If you throw 10 deep and hit on 8, that is so much better than attempting just one and completing it. Yet the rating for the later may be better.

Anyway...still pulling for Dak. But some stats are really misleading.